Month: September 2021

Travelling down memory lane, actor Kangana Ranaut dug out a few pictures from her childhood.

In one of the images posted on her official Instagram account, she can be seen wearing her school uniform.

Reminiscing her school days, Kangana wrote, “Small school in the valley called Hill View … year 1998. Himachal Pradesh.”

The other picture shows little Kangana posing at a temple.

“Found another gem ha ha …From school picnic to a temple premises…. Jai Mata di,” she captioned the Instagram post.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kangana will be seen in ‘Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda’, ‘Emergency’, ‘Dhaakad’, ‘Tejas’, and ‘ The Incarnation: Sita’. (ANI)

Actor Raveena Tandon’s digital debut ‘Aranyak’ is all set to release soon on Netflix.

On Sunday, Raveena treated fans with the official teaser of her first web show that delves into an ancient myth in the misty Himalayas.

In the teaser, she can be seen as a cop facing the supernatural element in a dense forest along with Ashutosh Rana.

Sharing the link of the clip, Raveena took to Instagram and wrote, “Akhiyon se goli maarne phir se aa rahi hoon mein but this time with this mysterious thriller, Aranyak.”

As per Netflix, the show revolves around a police officer (Raveena) who digs up skeletons and revives a forgotten Himalayan myth of a bloodthirsty, serial killing entity in the forest while investigating the disappearance of a teenage tourist.

‘Aranyak’ also stars Parambrata Chatterjee. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first-ever in-person meeting with US President Joe Biden raised a number of issues involving the Indian community in the US, including access for Indian professionals in the country and spoke about the H-1B visas, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said.

“He (PM Modi) spoke of the issue of getting access for Indian professionals to the United States. In that context he mentioned H-1B visa,” Shringla said while addressing reporters on Friday (local time).
“He (PM Modi) also spoke of the fact that many Indian professionals who work here (in the US) contribute to Social Security. The return of those contributions in the United States is something that affects the number of Indian workers,” Shringla said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as “outstanding” his first bilateral meeting in the Oval Office with US President Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister and his counterparts — Scott Morrison of Australia and Japan’s Yoshihide Suga — also attended the meeting of Quad leaders hosted by US President Biden in the US capital on Friday (local time).

US federal judge had earlier turned down Trump-era changes to H-1B visa rules that were to deter US companies from replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labour.

The rules were applied to tech industry workers as well as doctors, accountants, professors, scientists and architects. (ANI)

Punjab Chief Minister, Charanjit Singh Channi is likely to induct half a dozen new faces while four ministers who were a part of the Amarinder Singh-led- government are expected to be dropped from the cabinet.

After three rounds of meeting with the Congress high command, the new cabinet of Punjab, under the leadership of Chief Minister Charanjeet Singh Channi has been finalised on Saturday, sources said.
Channi today met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and after the meeting announced that Punjab cabinet expansion will be held tomorrow at Raj Bhawan, at 4:30 pm.

Of the three meetings, two meetings were held at Rahul Gandhi’s residence within a span of 24 hours. The meetings continued till late at night.

According to sources, four ministers considered as close aides of former CM Captain Amarinder Singh are likely to be dropped from Channi’s new cabinet and half a dozen of new faces will be introduced tomorrow.

As per the sources, the new faces of the Punjab cabinet are likely to be Raj Kumar Verka, Sangat Singh Giljian, Punjab Congress’ working President Kuljeet Nagra, Gurkeerat Singh Kotli, General Secretary of Punjab PCC Pargat Singh, Rana Gurjit, and Raja Warring.

Meanwhile, the ministers whose names might be dropped from the cabinet are Sunder Shyam Arora, Sandhu Singh Dharamsot, Balbir Sidhu, Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, Gurpreet Singh Kangar.

When asked if the decision involves a particular leader, the sources told ANI that all ministers and MLAs are seen through a single lens by the party leadership and not as different groups.

“If few ministers are being dropped and new faces are being introduced, it is on the basis of their performance and for the effective functioning of the state government,” they said. (ANI)

The Taliban in early September formed the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and appointed 33 more cabinet ministers that neither have women nor mainstream politicians from previous regimes rather it appointed world’s most dreaded and wanted cabinet ministers.

Earlier in September, the Taliban has announced a list of 17 more ministers in the caretaker Afghanistan Cabinet.
Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund who is appointed as the Prime Minister of the IEA is the co-founder of the Taliban is known to be an ill-tempered, religious dogmatist, is “considered one of the most unreasonable Taliban leaders”.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, First Deputy PM is related to Mullah Muhammad Omar, his brother-in-law through marriage to his two sisters.

He served as shadow governor of Herat and Kandahar, the commander of the central army corps and defence minister in the last Taliban government.

Molvi Abdul Salam Hanafi, second Deputy to PM is a key member of the Taliban’s negotiating team in Doha, served as education minister in the first Taliban Government.

He later served as military in charge of Jawzjan province after 9/11. Hanafi ran narcotics business for the Taliban to raise revenues.

In May 2020, Yakoob was made head of all Taliban military operations. The move displaced Ibrahim Sadr who was tipped to become Interior Minister.

Alhaj Mullah Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister claimed responsibility for multiple suicide attacks in Afghanistan with dozens of civilians killed.

Molvi Ameer Khan Muttaqil Mutaqqi, the Foreign Minister was a member of the Taliban negotiations team in Doha. He served as Minister of Culture, Education and Information during the first Taliban regime.

Sheikh Molvi Nurullah Munir, the Education Minister was on the UN sanction list.

Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa, Minister for Information and Broadcasting is the co-founder of the Taliban and said to have trained as a cleric in the Dar-ul-Uloom seminary near Peshawar in Pakistan.

He was arrested in Pakistan and ended up in Guantanamo Bay prison camp. Later, he was released in a prisoner swap and resettled in Doha. He is close to Bin Laden and Mullah Omar and is considered a hardliner.

Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, Minister for Economic Affairs is among the few members of ethnic minority groups to have a role in the Taliban.

He served as planning minister in the first Taliban Government and then served on the Taliban supreme council. He was close to Mullah Omar and is a hardliner.

Sheikh Noor Muhammad Saqib, the Minister for Hajj and Auqaf was a member of the Taliban Supreme Council and Head of Taliban Religious Committee.

Molvi Abdul Hakim, Law Minister served as the Taliban’s shadow chief justice, enforcing Sharia law.

Mullah Nooruilah Noori, Minister for Border and Tribal Affairs is considered to be a hardliner.

Mullah Abdul Mannan Umer, Minister for Public Works, is the step-brother of Mullah Omar. As per Afghan Intelligence officials, he was relocated to Karachi with a Pakistani passport and was living in a luxury villa in the Rayyan area.

Mullah Muhammad Essa Akhund, Minister for Minerals and Petroleum was close to Mullah Omar. He was considered as a third-most important figure in the Taliban.

Abdul Baki Haqqail, Minister for Higher Education was Governor of the eastern province Khost and Paktika before 9/11 and later Vice-Minister of Culture. He is said to have played an important role in the revival of the Taliban’s network in the region from 2003 onwards.

Najibullah Haqqani, Minister for Communication played an important role in the Haqqani Network’s operations from 2008 by taking charge of all operations in Kunar and Lagman province.

Najibullah is alleged to have an important role in organising terrorist attacks and raising funds for the group.

Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani, Minister for Refugees has been described as a key fundraiser for the Haqqani Network, charged with running a network of front companies in Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Pakistan, with interests in mining, transport and construction.

Abdul Haq Waseeq, Intelligence Chief was freed in a 2014 prisoner swap. He is part of the Haqqani Network.

Molvi Ahmed Jan Ahmedi, In-Charge of Administrative Affairs is a key commander of the Haqqani Network. He acts as deputy spokesperson and advisor for the Haqqani network.

Mullah Muhammad Fazil Mazloom Akhund, Deputy Defence Minister was held in Guantanamo Bay detention camps in Cuba for 12 years. It is alleged that he is responsible for killing thousands of Shia Afghans between 1996 and late 2001. He is accused of war crimes against Afghanistan’s Shia minority, as well as links to groups like Al Qaeda.

Qari Faseehuddin, Army Chief was involved in leading Taliban forces in the attack on the remaining resistance holdouts in Panjshir Province. He appears to have been rewarded for stamping out resistance in the Panjshir region.

Molvi Noor Jalal, Deputy Interior Minister, is a cousin to Najibullah Haqqani, the telecom minister. After being delisted by the UN, he worked for a Kabul-based NGO involved in conflict resolution.

The list amply describes that the new cabinet ministers are hardlines, with some even on the US and UN terror lists. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on Friday held their first bilateral meeting since the latter assumed office and discussed progress in ties and issues related to trade, COVID-19, climate change and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

PM Modi, who met Biden at the Oval Office of the White House, said in his opening remarks that the bilateral summit was important and seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US. He said they were meeting at the start of the third decade of this century and “your leadership will certainly play an important role in how this decade is shaped”.

In his opening remarks, Biden said that ties between India and the US are destined to be “stronger, closer, tighter” and that the ties between the US and India can help in solving “a lot of global challenges”.

PM Modi was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival at the White House for the bilateral meeting.

He praised Biden for his efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and promoting Quad.

The Prime Minister also told US President that there is much to be done in the field of trade between the two countries.

“There is much to be done in trade. Trade will be an important factor in India-USA ties in the coming decade,” he said.

“Today’s bilateral summit is important. We are meeting at the start of the third decade of this century. Your leadership will certainly play an important role in how this decade is shaped. The seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US,” he added.

PM Modi said US President is taking initiatives to implement his vision for bilateral relations. He further added this decade will be shaped by talent and people-to-people linkages.

In his remarks, Biden recalled that in 2006, when he was US Vice President, he had said that India and the US will be among the closest nations in the world in 2020.

“I have long believed that the US-India relationship can help us solve a lot of global challenges. In fact back in 2006 when I was the Vice President, I said that by 2020 India and the US will be among the closest nations in the world,” Biden said.

“I think that the relationship between India and the United States, the largest democracies in the world, is destined to be stronger, closer and tighter, and I believe it can benefit the whole world,” he added.

Biden said they are launching a new chapter in the history of India US ties, “taking on some of the toughest challenges we face together, starting with a shared commitment.

Biden said during the talks, he will talk about “what more we can do to fight COVID-19, take on the climate challenges that the world face, and ensure stability in the Indo Pacific, including with our partners”.

Since January, PM Modi and Biden have participated in three summits. Two of them were hosted by President Biden – the Quad virtual summit in March and the Climate Change Summit in April which was also held virtually. PM Modi also virtually took part in the G7 Summit held at Cornwall in the UK in June this year. (ANI)

Maharashtra government on Friday announced to reopen schools from October 4. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has approved the reopening of schools in consultation with the task force and health department, Varsha Gaikwad, the state education minister, said.

The minister informed that the schools will be reopened in a phased manner. The local authorities, collectors, and the commissioner will monitor strict standard operation procedures (SoPs).

“In rural areas classes will resume from std 5th to 12th and in urban areas from standard 8th to 12th. Local authorities have been given powers to monitor guidelines set by the government,” Gaikwad said.

The Minister explained that they also aim to bring those students back who had dropped out due to their poor circumstances.

“We are also looking for those students who dropped out of school during the pandemic due to their circumstances. We have started the drive to look for those students during the first wave but it could not continue in the second. Our motive is clear, as soon as schools will be reopened we will get them back to school,” she said.

Speaking further Gaikwad said that students will be facilitated with access to online and offline classes. They will come to schools only with the consent of their parents.

“The attendance will not be made compulsory for students as they will be able to receive education through both online and offline mediums and our content is available on YouTube. Students will come to schools only with the consent of their parents,” Gaikwad said.

Earlier, Gaikwad had announced the reopening of the schools in both rural and urban areas from August 17, but now it has been decided to reopen them from October 4. (ANI)

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the state aims to achieve 100 per cent vaccination against COVID-19 by November 2021.

Thakur, while addressing a public event, said that the Union Government has provided wholehearted support and cooperation to the State Government to effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.

“The State after achieving the 100 per cent target of inoculating the first dose of vaccination to the eligible population is now striving hard to become the first state in the country in achieving the cent-per cent vaccination of the people by the end of November this year,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that the state to date has achieved a target of about 46 per cent second dose vaccination of eligible groups.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal has appreciated the achievements of the Himachal Pradesh Government in becoming the first State of the country in jabbing cent-per cent first dose of COVID-19 vaccination to the eligible age groups besides ensuring food safety to the targeted groups.

Goyal was addressing Sewa Aur Samarpan Abhiyan at Totu-Jutogh in Shimla here today.

The Union Minister said that the State Government has made tremendous progress in all spheres of development during the last fifty years after attaining the status of statehood. He said, “the State had not only emerged as a role model for hill States of the country but also shown the path for others big states,” Goyal said.

While congratulating the Chief Minister and people of the State on the golden jubilee year of Statehood, Piyush Goyal said that the State during about four years has achieved various milestones under the able leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Chief Minister while welcoming the Union Minister said that the Sewa Aur Samarpan Abhiyan was being launched throughout the country to celebrate two decades of Prime Minister in public services. He said that the birthday of the Prime Minister on September 17 was celebrated as Sewa Divas throughout the country and various welfare activities were being organized to mark the occasion.

Thakur thanked the Central government for their support.

Prime Minister’s Office, on September 6 informed that Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to have administered at least one dose of corona vaccine to its entire eligible population.

As many as 224 new COVID-19 cases have been detected in the state of Himachal Pradesh on Friday, the state health bulletin said. (ANI)

US Vice President Kamala Harris met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two countries, the White House informed in a statement on Friday.

“They discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and collaborative efforts to respond and recover, including cooperation on vaccine production under the Quad Vaccine Partnership,” said White House.

According to the statement, Harris welcomed India’s commitment to resume vaccine exports and the progress of its domestic vaccination campaign. Both US Vice President and Prime Minister Modi agreed that ambitious action to combat climate change was imperative in the face of the climate crisis.

“They each emphasized a commitment to democratic values and discussed the need to strengthen democracy at home and abroad. They supported expanding bilateral security cooperation in the face of modern threats, including terrorism and cybercrime,” the statement said.

As the chair of the National Space Council, the US Vice President encouraged expanded US-India space cooperation, and she and Prime Minister Modi explored ways to build on existing, robust bilateral collaboration on space, it added.

Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said both PM Modi and US Vice President Harris appreciated, the India-US bilateral relationship, which were they felt were on strong footing with given the shared values, common interest in growing strategic convergence.

“They exchanged views on recent regional developments of mutual interest, reaffirmed their commitment towards a free open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. The Covid-19 situation and respective national efforts to combat it was an important theme of their discussion,” informed Shringla.

This was PM Modi’s first in-person meeting with the Indian origin US Vice President.

“India is a very important partner to the US. We had COVID-19, the kind of crisis and importance of our shared belief in a free and open Indo-Pacific region. On COVID-19, our nations have worked together. Early in the pandemic, India was a vital source of vaccines for other countries,” Harris said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday during his three-day visit to the United States.

PM Modi will review the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with President Biden and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, said a departure statement. Later, Prime Minister Modi will also attend Quad Leaders’ Summit. (ANI)